LA
Episcopal leaders nominate 2 openly gay, lesbian priests as bishops
By Duke Helfand,
1:10 PM PDT, August 2, 2009
Episcopal Church
leaders in
The nominations of the Rev. John L. Kirkley of San Francisco and the Rev. Canon
Mary Douglas Glasspool of a Baltimore-based diocese are likely to further
inflame theological conservatives in the U.S. church and their global partners
in the Anglican Communion, who have repeatedly warned about the repercussions
of such action.
The
two are among six nominees who will face election for two assistant bishop
posts at the diocese's annual December convention in
The Diocese of Los Angeles, which represents 70,000 Episcopalians in six
counties, is widely regarded as one of the most liberal in the
"I affirm each and every one of these candidates and am pleased at the
wide diversity they offer this diocese," Bruno said in a statement.
Dozens of
traditionalist churches and four dioceses, including one in Central California,
broke away last year over their opposition to the 2003 consecration of
partnered gay bishop in
In addition to Kirkley and Glasspool, the other nominees are: the Rev. Canon
Diane M. Jardine Bruce of St. Clement's by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in San
Clemente; the Rev. Zelda M. Kennedy of All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena;
the Rev. Irineo Martir Vasquez of St. George's Episcopal Church in Hawthorne;
and the Rev. Silvestre E. Romero of St. Philip's Episcopal Church in San Jose.
The action in